10 Homemade Holiday Gifts

18 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by Nicole Small in chocolate, dessert recipe, Holidays

Tags

dessert recipe, gift guide, gluten free, holiday, holiday gift guide, holidays, homemade gifts, recipe, sweets, vegetarian

My favorite kind of gifts to give are always homemade – they make the most wonderful and memorable presents. This Homemade Holiday Gift Guide contains some of my favorite recipes just for this purpose.

I think homemade holiday gifts are even more thoughtful than a store bought gift, especially when they come from your kitchen! I love knowing that someone created a special treat just for me. These are great presents to give to loved ones, friends, and even teachers, neighbors and coworkers. They are perfect for the person who seems to have everything. It would be easy to pick 2 or 3, make a big batch, and then wrap them up to spread some holiday cheer!

10 Homemade Holiday Gifts // Tsiporah Blog

Last year I threw a holiday party and I pulled out all of the stops: white elephant gift exchange, photo booth, ugly sweaters and a cookie exchange! It was amazing, and the cookie exchange was a great way to experience the special holiday treats that my friends enjoy. I can’t create the same winter wonderland in my tiny apartment, but I can enjoy a little piece of it by creating some yummy gifts for my friends and family – and so can you! Put down those candy canes and checkout these 10 gift ideas:

1. Peppermint Hot Chocolate Spoons

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Spoons - Holiday Gift Idea // Tsiporah Blog

Peppermint hot chocolate spoons are a cute and easy gift to give (and enjoy for yourself!). I’ve made these multiple years in a row. The first year I made them for my best friend, and after that she has requested them each year, so I make enough to give to all of my close friends. They’re fun to give to everyone on your list because they’re just so easy! I like to include peppermint marshmallows too.

2. Apple Butter

Apple butter goes well with so many foods, from your morning toast to a sweet and tangy marinade. Your gift recipients will be impressed – they’ll have no idea that apple butter so easy to make! It’s easy to pack in a glass jar with a pretty label .

3. A Box of Homemade Cookies

hanukkah cookies for the holidays

Cookies are one of the greatest and most quintessential holiday gifts. Let me tell you three reasons why I love cookies as a gift: First, I often come home and I want a quick, sweet bite, and cookies are just right for this craving. Second, a box of cookies is nice to have around during the holidays to share with guests who come by. Third, it’s fun to try new cookies that you haven’t had before. To spice up your cookie box, check out these recipes from my family to yours:

Holiday Butter Cookies
Lavender Cookies with Lemon Glaze
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Vanilla Bean Cookies

4. Homemade Chocolates

These handmade Peanut Butter Chocolates are the perfect gift for your chocoholic loved ones! Plus, the fact that they are handmade means that you can customize them however you like to suit your friends’ and family’s tastes.

5. Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar

by the Kitchn

I’ve wanted to make this Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar for 2 years now, and somehow I still haven’t. I have had chocolate balsamic before and I think it would make a beautiful gift. It’s great paired with strawberries, or even… dare I say… vanilla ice cream! Yes, my friends. Yes.

6. Apple Cider Caramels

Deb from Smitten Kitchen is one of my favorite bloggers, and her Apple Cider Caramels look to die for. I haven’t made this specific caramel recipe before but they’re so perfect for the season that I had to include them!

7. Peppermint Crunch Truffles

These Peppermint Crunch Truffles are a fun play on traditional peppermint bark. Plus, these truffles look super fancy and classy, yet they only have 3 ingredients and they are so easy to make!

8. Holiday Spice Pecans

Sweet spiced pecans are one of the best scents ever. You know what I’m talking about, and so does Melanie at A Beautiful Bite. She says, “You know when you go into the mall and smell that wonderful scent that can only mean that there’s a nut vendor somewhere close by? That heady cinnamon sugar smell..?” THAT is what your kitchen will smell like. Yum!

9. Salted Chocolate-Pecan Toffee

Salted Chocolate-Pecan Toffee - Holiday Gift Idea by Sunset

by Sunset Magazine

If you’ve read my blog long enough you’ll know that I love Sunset recipes. Toffee is always welcome in my home, it is one of my favorite desserts! This Salted Chocolate-Pecan Toffee really could not be better. Seriously. Make this and give it to someone. Or make it and mail some to me!

10. Flatbread Crackers with Thyme & Honey

Lastly, a savory recipe, for your friends and family who don’t like sweets (I know, whaaaat, but these people exist). Smitten Kitchen has created a wonderful flatbread recipe that would be just amazing in a gift basket with some fresh sprigs of thyme, a wedge of good cheese and a jar of local honey to enjoy along with it. This would also make a great holiday party appetizer!

If you are looking for clever ways to wrap up all of these goodies, check out my Gift Giving & Holidays Pinterest board! I also pin holiday inspirations, gift ideas and more. Let’s be friends!
What is your go-to homemade holiday treat? Tell me in a comment!

*A Note on Sharing: If you are going to pin the recipe for one of these yummy gifts, please do so from the original source!

MORE TSIPORAH BLOG:

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

***

Apple Pie Bars

08 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by Nicole Small in Autumn/Fall, dessert, dessert recipe, Holidays, sweets, Thanksgiving, vegetarian/vegan

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

apple, apple pie, dairy free, dessert, dessert recipe, food, food blog, food blogger, gluten free, holidays, pie, recipe, recipe blog, recipe blogger, sweets, thanksgiving, thanksgiving recipe

Apple Pie is one of the most traditional Autumn and Thanksgiving dessert recipes, alongside Pumpkin Pie and Derby Pie (at least in our house!). The combination of apples with warming spices, a buttery crumble topping and flakey pie crust to hold it all together is just dreamy with these upcoming chilly Autumn days. My suggestion? Cozy up on a Saturday afternoon, bake a batch of these and enjoy them alongside a warm mug of chai tea or coffee with cardamom.

Apple Pie Bars Recipe for Thanksgiving via Tsiporah Blog

Pies in bar form are brilliant, truly. They are easy to eat, they’re great for on-the-go (think bringing lunch to work, or packing a special treat in your kid’s lunch boxes, or a snack while running out the door…), and they re-heat beautifully. After I made my Derby Pie Bars last year I fell in love with the idea and proceeded to create these Apple Pie Bars.

Autumn Apples

These have all of the flavors of traditional apple pie, yet they are more convenient and easier to eat. They would be a great addition to your Thanksgiving dessert table (dessert deserves its own table, obviously). They would also be nice to bring to a party during the holidays, or as a sweet housewarming gift.

Apple Pie Bars

Ingredients

Crust
Whip up a half batch of my favorite cobbler/pie crust recipe

Filling
5 cups apples, peeled and chopped
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp maple syrup
3 tbsp melted butter

Crumble Topping
1 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cups oatmeal
2/3 cups brown sugar
6 tbsp butter
2 tsp cinnamon

Butter, for the pan

Apple Pie Bars for Autumn via Tsiporah Blog

Directions

Prepare crust as directed and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Peel and chop 5 cups of apples, which is about 6 large apples. Place the chopped apples in a bowl and combine with cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar and maple syrup.

In a large skillet with tall sides, melt 3 tbsp butter. Pour the apple mixture in and sauté over low heat just until the apples begin to soften slightly (not more than 10 minutes).

Apple Pie Bars recipe for Thanksgiving Dessert - via Tsiporah Blog

This is obviously not a big enough skillet, which I realized after I took this picture and then I switched pans

While the apples are cooking, combine all ingredients for the crumble topping in a food processor and pulse just to combine. Butter a square or rectangular pan. I used a nice, deep square pan but you can even use a brownie pan.

Roll out the dough and place it in the bottom of the pan, with the sides folded over the edges of the pan.

Tip: The easiest way to do this, which my great grandmother taught me, is to loosely roll the dough onto your rolling pin, hover your rolling pin above your pie pan, and gently unroll the rough so that it falls softly on top of the pan. From there you can gently maneuver and press it down into the bottom.

Apple Pie Bars for Thanksgiving

Pie crust recipe via Tsiporah Blog - how to get pie crust into your pan

Once the apples are done, pour them straight from the skillet into the prepared pan. Press the apples down with a rubber spatula to flatten them and then top with the crumble mix. Trim any extra crust around the edges, or fold it down to create a little bit of a rim around the apple pie bars.

Apple Pie Bars Recipe - Thanksgiving Dessert

Apple pie crumble topping

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes, or until the crust and crumble topping are both golden brown. If the crumble begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover the pan with foil.

Baked Apple Pie Bars

Once they are done, let them cool for about 10 minutes before digging in. You can top these with vanilla bean ice cream, or enjoy them as is!